Cub Scout gives Carolina Panthers linebacker his Pinewood Derby car

Most fans in line wanted autographs for their footballs, hats and jerseys.

So you can imagine Luke Kuechly’s surprise when he stopped in front of 9-year-old Jackson and was handed a gift instead.

It was Jackson’s Pinewood Derby car. And not just any car — a winning Pinewood Derby car. Kuechly, the All-Pro linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, didn’t have to be told what he was holding. Kuechly, it seems, was a Cub Scout.

“Pinewood Derby? I like it,” he said. “I had to build one of these when I was a little guy. I’ll hang it in my locker.”

But Kuechly wasn’t done, and just then it became apparent why he’s considered one of the nicest guys in the NFL. Why his team’s quarterback, Cam Newton, calls him “Captain America.”

Instead of just taking the car, he asked Jackson to sign it. Tables turned.

“You’ve got to put your name on it,” Kuechly said. “That’s the rule.”

Then, to thank Jackson for the car, the linebacker gave the Cub Scout the gloves he had worn in practice. Now both Jackson and Kuechly had priceless gifts from the exchange.

Or, as Kuechly jokingly explained, “It’s commodity trading.”

Watch video of the scene below, posted by WBTV’s Molly Grantham.


Hat tip: Thanks to David Willis for the blog post idea.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.